The number of travelers who go from the idea of a trip to the plane taking off in literally a few hours never runs dry. And they always have a choice of last-minute deals - from traditional Egypt to exotic Cuba. Such an arrangement of a vacation is akin to a lottery: you can come out a winner, or you can throw money away. Who would like, upon becoming the happy owner of a beach tour, to live in a shabby hotel somewhere off the beaten path and trudge to the sea under the scorching sun for nearly an hour? But then how wonderful, having paid for lodging at three-star rates, to plunge into the luxury of a first-class hotel. How can you guess what lies behind one or another last-minute deal?
First of all, you should understand how the last-minute tours on offer came about. This year, at the end of winter, the usually popular Thailand sharply dropped in price. People turned away from their favorite destination, fearing bird flu. This means the price changed not at the expense of worse vacation conditions. The service has not become worse (and in such cases it sometimes even improves), and if you are not scared of the possible chance of catching an infection, then you clearly will not lose out. The same, force-majeure, category includes discounts for other reasons: an earthquake, a recent terrorist attack, civil unrest, lack of snow at a ski resort, water pollution, or an unexpected cold snap at a seaside resort... Tour operators prepare for the season in advance: they book hotel and plane seats for the summer almost in winter, and vice versa. And over such a period of time it is impossible to predict the weather or people's moods. The travel company can no longer refuse its obligations; this threatens it with serious penalties. That is when travel businessmen, hoping to save at least something, are forced to cut prices. In such a situation, you should not look for a catch: no demand - expect a flurry of favorable offers.
It is much worse if a travel company has planned too many charter flights. All vacationers have long since taken their rooms in hotels, and the planes keep taking off and taking off. Then an imprudent company forms a last-minute deal based on cheap tickets, and there is a high probability of ending up in the most rundown hotel. Or you might even be left without accommodation altogether. The cases here can be most unpleasant: a single room for four, moving during the vacation from one hotel to another, and even far from romantic overnight stays under the open sky. In short, the vacation is ruined, and afterward you can seek justice for a very long time and often unsuccessfully.
It happens that at the peak of the season a few tempting tours to a low-category hotel suddenly appear. In this case, there is no deception - they are trying to sell a hotel that no one wanted to go to. Do not rush to buy, but gather full information about the hotel and, having seen all the pros and cons, think: can you vacation under the proposed conditions?
Often, under the banner of “last-minute deals,” tours that are not actually such are placed. This is just a publicity stunt. A markdown of 5-10% cannot serve as a reason for such a loud headline. In such a section, reputable companies place offers that have become cheaper by at least 20%.
If you correctly calculate the right last-minute deal, notes “Put i Voditel,” then besides an unforgettable vacation you will be in for a financial gain, which can amount to 20-50% with a complete absence of unpleasant moments.